Research Associate (fixed-term)

The Department of Life Sciences is seeking a new Research Associate in optimisation of microneedle insertion and understanding the implications of repeat application as tools to support translation.

You will perform a significant portion of the research with collaborators at the National Physical Laboratory (Teddington, UK).  

You should have first-hand experience of the biophysical applications of Raman and mass spectroscopic imaging methods and an understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences underpinning drug delivery across biological barriers.  

About the role:

Microneedle arrays (MN) are minimally-invasive devices that painlessly, and without drawing blood, by-pass the skin’s stratum corneum barrier, allowing delivery into/through, or extraction from, the viable skin layers. 

This multi-institution, multidisciplinary project aims to answer fundamental scientific and regulatory questions that remain to be addressed for polymeric MN regarding their optimum design, penetration depth and retention and the effects of their repeated application to skin.   

The principal goal for the Bath team is to apply tools confocal Raman spectroscopy, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and mass spectrometric (MS) imaging (MALDI and SIMS) to study polymer disposition in tissues following repeated application of microneedles to the skin. 

The specific responsibilities include: 

Contribute with researchers at Bath, other institutions and at a Clinical Research Organization to the design and development of studies on multiple insertion of M

Conduct background reading, preliminary range-finding experiments using (Raman/MS) and CRS/SRS/SHG training and pilot experiments at Bath and at National Physical laboratory (NPL)

Conduct studies with repeated MN-treated pig tissue at Bath and at NPL. Conduct data processing, analysis and interpretation.

Participate in meetings with stakeholders (regulators, industry, research networks as relevant)

Contribution to scientific outcomes (conference presentations, scientific articles) of the grant.

Further information:

This is a 14 month, fixed-term role.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Prof. Begoña Delgado-Charro ([email protected] ), however, please submit your application including a full CV, list of publications/presentations, via the University website.

About us:

The new Life Sciences Department within the Faculty of Science at the University of Bath brings together the University strengths in the areas of Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy & Pharmacology to form a single, cross-disciplinary, integrated and collaborative department, which creates the critical mass and environment to be more competitive on the evolving national and international research stages. 

This will also afford greater opportunities to engage with and create stronger partnerships with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industrial sectors, as well as the NHS. 

Five cross-disciplinary research themes are prioritised: biodiversity and evolution; biotechnology; cells, development and disease; microbiology, infection & inflammation; and diagnostics, therapeutics and patient care. 

These themes bridge across the Department, enabling new opportunities for wider collaboration and to define a new vision of Life Sciences incorporating excellent pharmacy research.

What we can offer you:

We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award . We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on our teams. 

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff .

Find out from our staff what makes the University of Bath a great place to work. Follow us @UniofBath and @UniofBathJobs on Twitter for more information.

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Further details:

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Update to our application process

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